At the press conference before Saturday's home game against RB Leipzig, Vincent Kompany said the debate around Jonas Urbig and Manuel Neuer is “good for us” when he was asked about comments from Jens Lehmann and Oliver Kahn. He also addressed Neuer's injury.
Kompany on the goalkeeper discussion
Kompany said: “I can't assess every talk show. (…) We always have a plan and try to see it through. It's good for us that Jonas is part of this discussion. We created this situation ourselves,”
Kompany said Bayern Munich had said that when Urbig came from Cologne.
Kompany said: “We said that back when he came from Cologne in January two years ago.”
Kompany said: “Nobody believed it was possible because he wasn't playing in Cologne and was the second goalkeeper,”
Kompany said: “Then we allowed the situation to develop step by step. We knew a year beforehand that this discussion would come. And that's a good thing.”
Kompany said Bayern Munich had a “good arrangement”.
Neuer's place in the situation
Kompany said: “Manuel is a huge part of this story. It doesn't work without Manu, without his presence, leadership and performances during this period.”
Injury update on Neuer
GOAL reported that Neuer is still struggling with his foot injury and had not returned to the training pitch by Thursday.
On Neuer's injury, Kompany said: “I don't want to take on the role of a doctor,”
Kompany said: “It's his foot, not his thigh or shoulder. It won't take that long. Whether it's tomorrow or next week, we'll see. First he needs to feel better and train when he can, then this phase will be over too.”
Kahn's comments
Oliver Kahn said: “I can't recommend anything to anyone now. Only the person themselves can decide that. Things like: when do I stop, when do I retire? You spare yourself certain situations. Taking part in the World Cup again, which, to put it mildly, was not a great success,”
Kahn said: “At some point you have to decide for yourself: what is more important to me now? To continue pursuing my passion for as long as possible, which I can also understand. Or to step away while people are still saying he could go on for another two or three years. And eventually, and I can slowly see this coming now, it is no longer his own decision, but the decision of others. And you don't need that in such a great career.”